FAQ

Demonstrates to employers, co-workers and to yourself that you’ve met the National Technology Bench Marks of training, ethics and experience
Personal satisfaction: After year’s of training and hard work, you’ve earned the right to hold yourself out as a “certified” technican or technologist
Belonging: Membership opens the doors to networking opportunites to exchange ideas, gain information and enrich personal and professional development
Base for Upgrading: Provides a base of academic and skills training from which members and their employers can determine future studies to improve qualifications and status
Group Discounts: Members enjoy some of the most comprehensive and compelling group benefits of any technology association in the country! In addition to great group rates on home, auto and health insurance, members can also take advantage of discounts on flights with CanJet, and first aid kits and training from St. John Ambulance. And more are on the way! We want to make membership work for you at work and at home.

Employing certified technicians or technologists boosts a businesses credibility and provides a distinct competitive edge when bidding on contracts.
With a certified employee, you have someone who is guaranteed to be trained to a national standard, experienced, and ethical.
In addition, hiring certified technicians and technologists saves screening time. A CET, AScT, or C.Tech has earned these designations only after the Certification Board has conducted a thorough review of the member’s education qualifications, work experience and professional references.

All applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, although at a minimum you must meet the following requirements:
• be 18 years old and of good character
• be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant
• have completed a two- or three-year technician or technology level college program in engineering or applied science or their equivalent, or
• for members of the military, completion of an accepted technician trade up to the QL5 level
• two years of satisfactory work experience
• successful completion of the Ethics Exam
• receipt of the non-refundable application fee (for first-time applicants only) and, upon acceptance, receipt of your first year’s membership dues. (Dues are pro-rated and are tax deductible.)

The difference lies in the depth of their education and in the level of their technical responsibility.Technologists have studied more advanced courses in math, engineering theory and scientific principles, and have usually completed a two- or three-year university or college program, or equivalent. This advanced knowledge allows them to work in:
• problem solving
• design
• data interpretation
• complex troubleshooting
• preparation of specifications
• scheduling
• planning
• analysis
• project management
• decision making
• Many technologists move into more advanced level of applied science/engineering and management as their careers progress.

Canada’s technicians and technologists are key members of the country’s technical community. They can be found in nearly every facet of business, industry and government and are often regarded as the “backbone” of an organization.

Their combination of focused theoretical knowledge and finely tuned practical abilities has led to a strong demand for their skills across Canada and around the world. Certified technicians and technologists enjoy excellent salaries, high rates of employment and a great deal of respect from other professionals. They are the heart of Canada’s technology sector.

There are many opportunities for employment in engineering/applied science technology. One of the reasons for this is that technicians and technologists are in increasing demand by different firms across Canada. Automation and robotics have decreased the need for some skilled trades, but increased the need for technicians who are able to set up, diagnose and repair these complex systems. And, because of the growing use of engineering software, many calculations, design and process control, tasks that used to be done by engineers are now done by technologists. This trend is mostly seen in consulting, engineering, construction, mining, and oil and gas.

Associate member is a class of membership reserved for applicants who lack the necessary two years’ work experience for full certification. In order to become an Associate member, you would first need to fill out a regular application and send it to us via fax (902) 465-7567 or mail. If you’ve all of our student members have the regular $60.00 application processing fee waived as long as they apply within six months of graduation. In addition to a completed application, we would require an official transcript of marks/military training. A fax directly from the school is considered an official transcript.It is important to keep in mind that professional references must have a fax number or e-mail address listed so that they can receive our professional reference questionnaire. Those are the basic requirements, but each applicant is looked at on a case-by-case basis.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) facilitates the movement of goods and services between Canada, the US and Mexico. Canadian professionals, including certified technicians and technologists, should have an easier time gaining access to the US for employment under NAFTA, provided they follow the proper steps.The category for entry that will probably be most relevant to technicians and technologists is that of ‘Professionals’.

Following are the general criteria that must be met, as well as a list of the supporting documentation needed to work as a Professional under NAFTA:
• You can apply for entry to the United States as a NAFTA Professional at major ports of entry, international airports, or at airports in Canada where the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service has established a pre-clearance/pre-flight station. No visa is required, but a verbal application for entry must be made before an immigration officer.
• Upon entry to the US, the NAFTA Professional will receive an arrival record (Form I-94), which can be presented to the Social Security Administration in order to obtain a social security number.
• Spouses and dependent children of NAFTA Professionals can enter the US with the Professional, or at a following date. They must meet the general immigration requirements for temporary entry, but it is not necessary for them to be Canadian citizens. Spouses and children may attend school while in the US, but they are not allowed to work, unless they apply to, and meet the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Temporary access under NAFTA allows Professionals and their families to stay in the US for the duration of one year. However, an unlimited number of one year extensions may be granted by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, as long as ultimately, the stay remains temporary.
• Within reason, NAFTA business persons may bring certain goods with them to the US, duty-free. These can include the necessary tools of their trade and sporting equipment.
• Under Appendix 1603.D.1 to NAFTA, the profession of Scientific Technician/Technologist is listed, with minimum education requirements and alternative credentials including: “possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agriculture sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics, and (b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines to basic or applied research.”
• A provision to entry of Scientific Technician/Technologist is “a business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to work in direct support of professionals in agriculture sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics.”
• Bear in mind these are just guidelines, and should you require more information, you can consult the American Embassy or an American Consulate in your area.

• As well, the US Department of Commerce offers information on its web site related to NAFTA. The full free trade agreement, along with several useful documents relating to NAFTA can be found on the Office of NAFTA and Inter-American Affairs website

• Documents considered of particular interest are:
• NAFTA Facts document 3013 – contains information pertaining to the travel of NAFTA Professionals into the United States, and
• documents 3012 and 3014 – contain NAFTA employment information
• Note: This article reprinted from Tech-Can, a newsletter previously published by the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists.

If you’ve been trained outside Canada, it is recommended that you have your educational credentials assessed to determine their equivalency to Canadian educational standards. TechNova uses the CCTT Foreign Data Base. For more details, please call TechNova at (902) 463-3236.